Article link: How To Protect Your PC 1.1

In order to enjoy Oblivion, your PC needs to be in top condition and that means keeping bad programs away from it. Here are some tips:

1. Use a web browser other than Microsoft Internet Explorer. I am not going into the "who is more secure" debate because hackers target whoever is "on top" and that is the IE browser. I personally use FireFox because I am a web developer and really like the custom extensions available.

2. Use a hardware firewall if you can afford one.

3. Even if you have a hardware firewall, use a software firewall. (use only one)
- Comodo Firewall Pro (FREE no restrictions)
- ZoneAlarm Firewall (FREE for home use)
- Windows Firewall (FREE, comes with Windows XP, the SP2 version is recommended if you go this route but does not protect outbound traffic)

4. Use an Anti-Virus software and keep it updated. (install only one)
- Comodo Antivirus (FREE, no restrictions)
- Avast! Home Edition (FREE for home use)
- Avira Antivir (FREE for home use, crippleware)
- AVG Anti-Virus FREE Edition (FREE for home use)
- Clamwin (FREE, does not have real-time scanner...manual scans only)

5. Use Anti-Spyware software and keep them updated.
- Comodo AntiMalware (FREE, no conditions)
- Ad-aware (FREE for home use)
- Bazooka Spyware Scanner (FREE)
- Microsoft Windows Defender (FREE, requires Genuine Advantage)
- Spybot Search and Destroy (FREE)
- Spyware Blaster (FREE)

6. If you use Email, use an Anti-SPAM program and keep it updated. (install only one)
- Comodo AntiSpam (FREE)
- Spam Nullifier (FREE)
- Spam Experts (FREE for home use)

7. Before disaster strikes, make a bootable recovery CDROM. The Ultimate Boot CD for Windows is probably your best bet.

8. Keep all your "data" files that you consider necessary (as in the event of a hard-drive failure) in one location to make backups easier, faster and thus more likely to happen. I keep mine in an organized structure under E:MyData and use a tool called SyncBackSE to copy all the files to a secondary hard drive on a nightly basis in case one hard drive goes belly up. I also have another SyncBack profile that copies the same data to an external hard drive once in a while for offsite storage.

NOTE: Avoid Download Managers, most, if not all, are garbage and cause more problems than they help (such as system instability).

LHammonds

Seems like some pretty sound advice. ^^ You could add AVG Free to the list of anti-viruses though, it's another good choice.

Might also mention NoScript. Certainly served me well during the recent hack.

I think AVG is only free for like 30 days then you must purchase it.

I've had it for much longer than that. I'm pretty sure that it's free forever.

Yes, it is free forever. There's an AVG Professional Firewall that you can buy, but that's a separate program.

I would want to add these two links:
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/10063
http://www.dslreports.com/faq/10451
just if someone is interested..
Also this one could be interesting:
http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic58138.html
and this:
http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/millionaire/13899

I've added AVG and noted that it is free for home use only and that Clamwin is a manual scanner only...not realtime protection (kinda pointless unless used as a secondary scanner on a scheduled basis).

dyfed_99, the links to those info sites has some good info but I have a hard time getting people to read a single sentence, let alone a thesis on such a topic. hehehe.

I think the best thing to do is keep the list of recommendations short and to the point so that when somebody new to computers sees this page, they don't run away from it.

It might be a good idea to create an "advanced" topic for those that want to delve more into the subject matter but I'll leave that for somebody else.

LHammonds

Sorry if I quote you, but I hadn't this intention. At least it seems not to me, even I think someone could be still now interested. But, you know, I'm unable to write and speak very well English, so I provided just the links.

Thor.s back on the forums after 2 years of downloading .

Great tips, but i really recommend firefox, why no adds.

must have add ons for Firefox.

Adblock
Distrust
Finjin secure browsing
Flash block
Message level authentication
Redirect remover
trackmenot

I also recommend

for those really hardcore spywares, i suggest lavasofts adaware, (older versions) new ones have spyware (personal mode) 7 and up.

and AVG Antivirus is the best one on the list, use it all the time.

"People who use AdBlock Plus are filthy scum bags"

Can you provide a source for your claim that Ad-Aware is spyware?

Couldn't agree more Abramul - though the content of that link is a little to abrasive to do anything other than polarize the views - but maybe thats the point.

I say bring on the advertising!! I'd love to see a Coke billboard in Crysis or [insert appropriate product here] object/ sign / NPC in Oblivion - IF - it meant better content, more people hired for development, less buggy games, etc.

Nobody said Adware = Spyware.

I am aware of that posting (Dark0ne's views on ad-blockers) but I still use ad-blockers on my web browser.

Is it because it speeds things up? No.
Is it because I don't like looking at ads? No.
It's because my anti-virus and anti-spyware program caught spyware trying to slip into my system via ads on trusted sites (including TESSource!). The trusted sites are 100% safe, secure and virus free but not the marketing servers they pull ads from (and have no control over).

The next defensive step (knowing that new and unknown spyware cannot be blocked if your programs do not know about it) is by blocking / avoiding.

It's obvious why hackers attack ad agency servers:

1. The Ad mechanism to include ads on your site from external sites is a smart target for hackers.
2. They are easy targets seemingly because marketing people don't know or care about security (at least the ones I've dealt with)
3. One successful hack could yield thousands of potential targets.
4. Ad agencies get the short-end of the stick (black eye) because it looks like they are the source of the problem...well, the are a source but not THE source (the hacker).

I'm not going to link people to ad-blockers out of respect to Dark0ne's wishes but I don't hide the fact that I use them...specifically for the reason above.

LHammonds

I cannot agree more. It is this simple fact that forces me to use defensive measures that otherwise I would be glad to be rid of.

I have learned (as have 100's of my clients over the years, doctor's, lawyer's architect's, and many other business large and small) that to operate in today's computerized world, or even 20 years ago, you must take the responsibility for the protection of your technology.

No one else is going to do it for you. My clients understand that before I take the first step onto their business they will have the full Norton package ready for me to install. Just like, they will also have the correct battery backup for each computer system ready for me to install.

This is understood up front, before I walk in the door.

Would you drive your car without air in the tires?

To be perfectly honest I don't like the bloat ware that Norton has become but I won't operate without it. Why, because it has never failed me. I have never received a call from a client saying that it failed to catch "xyz" virus. Now, I don't run a system that is connected to the web without Spybot Search & Destroy installed. Why, because it works. It just happens to free.

If you get hit with a nasty, it's because you failed to listen to the experts, and you failed to protect your system.

My wife was a victim of Identity Theft two years ago. It was not because her computer failed to protect her information. It turned out that someone inside the bank was selling the information to criminals. In the end the bank had to take the hit for thousands of dollars. My hardware and software could not protect her from that.

I have Ad-Aware but rarely find the need to use it because the Norton/Spybot stops just about everything at the door, before it has a chance to do harm to my systems. To conclude (because I know I've been on quite a rant) generally, you get what you pay for when it comes to protection. There are exceptions however they need to be researched thoroughly, and rated by expert reviewers before I will even test run them.

If you don't protect yourself from the criminals they will hurt you sooner or later, it is just a matter of time.

Please don't give them the opportunity.

Stormraven

The link was in response to Thor.'s post as well:


Personally, I use NoScript, which prevents untrusted sites from running Flash and Java content. That seems to be adequate for preventing drive-by installs and such, while allowing less threatening ads (GIF and such) through.

I realize that your comment was directly aimed at Thor. I felt the need to reply to you because you made an unfounded statement:

Nobody on this thread (including Thor) ever made a claim that Ad-Aware is spyware. I assumed you mis-spelled the word since "Ad-Aware" is a spyware removal tool and I assume you meant to say "adware" such as in "ads." Either way, ads and Ad-Aware is NOT spyware and nobody posted such claims...except you.

LHammonds

Again:

I interpreted this as claiming that since 7.0.x the free version has some form of spyware bundled with it. Can't think of any other way to read it.

Personnaly I use Avira Antivir (it's a free software) and I think like many people: it's a great antivirus.

Menrhunes, thanks for the heads up. I will add it to the list but it doesn't seem like it's a good fit for many people.

- License only covers "Personal" use only. That means you cannot use it at church or your place of work (business).
- Free version is a limited version of their premium software.
- Free version requires regular registration in order to keep from being expired and becoming non-functional.

LHammonds

Oh ! Yes, you're right I was only thinking of personal use .

Additional bootable CD:

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

I liked this article - very well written; however, I would have to disagree with the author's recommendation for "Spyware Blaster." That application used to be heavily advertised by "SpyBot Search & Destroy" (Link included inside SpyBot), until I emailed SpyBot and proved to them that the Spyware Blaster server was infected with "Anti-Virus Gold". Their download tried to change my 56K modem startup command, and it wiped out all of my anti-malware startup commands. To the present day, SpyBot includes a detection for AVGold, and they have never again advertised Spyware Blaster.

To each his own I guess. I've never had an incident with SpywareBlaster and I'm responsible for over 300 PCs at multiple locations with multiple anti-virus and anti-spyware solutions running including Trend Micro, Avast, AVG, McAfee and Comodo.

I have heard about some reports that SpywareBlaster's update containing a virus or Trojan or malware but have yet to see it 1st-hand. With the very small percentage of reports that say the updates are infected makes me think about false positives. Just about each and every executable I've uploaded here at TESNexus has at one point or another been accused of containing a virus or Trojan because somebodies anti-virus program said so but I know for a fact that none of them contain any malware.

I still recommend SpywareBlaster until sufficient evidence shows there to be a wide-spread problem. If there was a problem in December 2007 with their server being compromised and then they fixed it, that is still nothing to be alarmed about as long as they continue to fight attacks. It only stands to reason that every anti-malware program out there are high-profile targets for attack.

Granted, there are several wolves out there in sheep's clothing claiming they are anti-malware program but they themselves are malware to the core. There are a couple I can think of but I won't mention their names due to slander but you will not seem them in this recommendation list.

LHammonds