Avoid Computer Viruses

9. It is imperative to keep your Operating System, Browser, Drivers, Java, Software, etc. up-to-date. If you don't, you leave yourself open to more computer viruses. A good anti-malware program like Malwarebytes (which also removes viruses, worms, spyware, malware and adware), can't do its full job if your system, drivers and software are not up-to-date.

Updating drivers can be a difficult task because it often entails time consuming internet searches. Here's a great alternative, a Driver Robot which will automatically update all your drivers. It correctly scans and detects your hardware devices. It has a huge database, to ensure you get the most up-to-date drivers that perfectly match your operating system and hardware. Note: when you first install driver robot and do a scan your firewall icon in your system tray will appear. Just go into your Firewall through control panel and add Driver Robot program as an exception to your Firewall blocking mechanism.

8. Buy a Router. You absolutely must be using a router if you have broadband internet access (through cable, dsl, etc., anything access except dialup). This is the simplest and most effective security measure anyone can take. Routers are small boxes, can cost anywhere from $20 to $80 depending upon many factors, and can be found in any electronics or computer store. There are some simple steps everyone can take, some more advanced then others, but even doing the basics can make your security far better then most, and keep computer viruses out of your computer.

7. Modify your HOSTS file - by preventing malicious software from communicating outside your computer. This allows you to surf the Net anonymously. Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File and Download and Install Instructions for the MVPS HOSTS File. This is a zip file and here is a free Open Source zip extractor 7-Zip.

6. disable 'File Sharing' = My Computer, Click Tools, Folder Options, Click the View tab. Under Advanced Settings, scroll to the bottom and uncheck the box next to - 'Use simple file sharing (recommended)'. Click Apply > OK.

5. Boost your system's resilience to computer virus attacks by adding an anti-malware program such as Malwarebytes.

4. update your Window's security patches and update for non-microsoft products such as Java, RealNetworks, etc. This is of paramount importance in how to avoid computer viruses.

3. automatically block access to malicious sites by using anti-phishing tools, and 3rd party tools. For networks get the free OpenDNS.

2. harden the browser - use Firefox instead of Internet Explorer. Run with as few privileges as you can i.e. preferrably browse the internet in a Non-administrator account, or get Drop My Rights (Windows Vista already has this).

Firefox is a much safer browser and you can download a plugin called WOT that rates every site. It rates each site by Trustworthiness, Vendor Reliability, Privacy and Child Safety.

Get the NoScript Firefox Add-on.

1. Security Awareness Training - human element is the weakest link in internet security. Users need to be trained to use discretion and good judgment while on the Internet in order to avoid getting a computer virus infection.

Note: Spyware Removers that are often advertised through Google Ads (hint - see top, side and bottom of this blog) most often have spyware on them!!!

My recommended anti-malware downloads can be found in the top right of this lens and these are safe to download.

I recommended above that you install the Firefox browser and to also install the WOT plug-in. This Plug-in will protect you from landing on a potentially harmful web page and assist you in internet attack prevention. It displays the rating of each site with either a Circle in Green, Yellow, Red or Blue (questionable). I recommend you only enter sites with a Green Circle.

When you do a Google Search with the WOT plug-in installed, each Google search result will have a Green, Yellow, Red or Blue WOT Circle beside it.

If you receive an email with a url link in it, I recommend that you don't click on the link but with your mouse copy the link location and then in the Google Search Engine type: "site:(paste url address in here)", with no space between site: and the url address, depress enter and it will pull up all the pages related to that site and will show whether it is safe to go on that site. But be careful with this also, as in some instances, i.e. a forum the particular page might be infected, so you should hunt through the search results from Google to find the exact page.

If you enter a malicious site this is what the WOT warning will look like:



It creates a barrier between your PC and the site, giving you the opportunity to drop out or back out, or proceed at your own peril!

If you have DSL or Cable Broadband Internet access, get a router, even if you only have one PC. A router adds an extra layer of protection because your PC is not connecting directly with the Internet.

Check your Internet ports. These doorways between your computer and the Internet can be open, in which case your PC is very vulnerable; closed, but still somewhat vulnerable; or stealthed (or hidden), which is safest. Visit Gibson Research's Web site and run the free ShieldsUP test to see your port's status. If some ports show up as closed--or worse yet, open--check your router's documentation to find out how to hide them.

Update: Since installing NoScript along with MalwareBytes about six months ago, I have not had any more computer viruses or Trojans, etc.

It can take a while (a few days) to get used to it. For instance, on the Squidoo site here, if I want to edit a lens, NoScript will block the editing action, until I say to allow it.

I can certainly see that it adds a much higher level of security and since I've been using it, I have not come under any internet attack. So if internet attack prevention is high on your list, get the NoScript Add-on for Firefox.It takes a little while to get used to the NoScript. You are given several options when you land on a page as to what scripts you want to allow. However, for the sites you frequent often, you can simply put them on the 'allow list', so you won't be prompted each time by NoScript as to what scripts to allow on your frequented sites.

Update March 18, 2009 - I still continue to be impressed with NoScript and have only had one attack in about 2 months. This is very low for me because I do a lot of research, often operating with 5 browsers open.

Bravo NoScript!

Paramount in internet safety is the question "How to avoid Computer Crime".

Always check out the person and/or site that you plan to deal with by using Domain Tools. This is a handy doman lookup tool.

Identify Theft: Do not use your Mother's Maiden Name in registering on sites or in any other regard, as this can result in identity theft.

Passwords: Use good Passwords with alpha and numeric sequencing.

Credit Cards: Prior to paying for an item online with your credit card, run anti-malware scans on your PC to ensure you did not recently pick up malware that could acquire your credit card numbers. See Module "Internet Attack attempt detected".

If you land on a web page and you receive a WOT warning of a dangerous site, or your anti-virus program pops up with a warning, drop out of the site and close all browser windows. If you have difficulty leaving due to malware pop-ups do not click on them, just do a Ctrl+alt+delete and end the browser.

Once off the internet do a quick scan with MalwareBytes, but before you do that, temporarily disable your anti-virus software. Once the MalwareBytes scan is finished you can enable your anti-virus software.

If MalwareBytes finds malware, then allow it to remove it and then do an anti-spyware scan with anti-virus software still temporarily disabled and then enable your anti-virus program and run its scanner.

This PC vulnerability test will detect how vulnerable your computer is to exploits attacks. This PC vulnerability scanner can be also used to test firewalls and routers for stability and reactions to unexpected packets. Most of the exploits are in fact denial-of-service attacks.

Note: Tick box 'Select All'; it won't show ticks in the other boxes, but if you tick each box the test won't work.

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The most likely ways you will know of an attack will be in the form of some sort of control of your computer that you are not responsible for. A classic example of this is the mouse moving over the screen without your control, or messages being typed on the screen without you pressing the keyboard.

The most important thing to do in this situation is to remove the Internet connection. The best way to do this is remove the physical cable from the computer or router or wall socket. Removing the physical cable means there is no way anyone can attempt to establish a connection to your computer.

Once this has been done, run a full system scan. Trojans and Spyware are the main reason a connection between you and the hackers has been established. If any computer virus or viruses were found and removed, the chances of you being hacked are slimmer.

If you have a firewall, open up the program and see if there any settings to increase the security level.

If you are on a large network, contact your superiors immediately, and then get in touch with the network administrators and they can tell you what to do next. In this situation, it is more likely a vulnerability in the network setup, in which case the firewall will be at a loss to help you.

Once you have run a full system scan with your Anti-Virus scanner the next stage is to run all windows updates to fix any security vulnerabilities that may allow hackers in through a back door. To run windows updates, visit - http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com If you have been hacked it is very hard to tell exactly what has been tampered with, so it may be an idea not to back up any files until they have been thoroughly checked, and if possible, not backed up at all. If you are having serious problems with hacking attacks it is advisable to fully format the disk, and reinstall Windows, which will eliminate any programs or files installed by the hackers. This is quite an extreme method, but does yield failsafe results.