[THIN] Re: Ad Ware
- From: "Jim Kenzig http://thin.net" <jimkenz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2004 12:39:54 -0400
Some good additions, I got a MS security update CD in the mail dated
February 2004. The new version 1.3 of spybot supposedly fixed the
coolwebsearch.
Feel free to forward this far and wide.
Jim
-----Original Message-----
From: thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf Of PETERSON, DAVID
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 12:09 PM
To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [THIN] Re: Ad Ware
This is a great article. I'd like to send it to my Help Desk to give to
users if that's ok.
A couple of notes:
While AVG Free Edition is a good AV for what it costs, it should be
noted that the only E-mail client it directly supports is Outlook. Also,
in terms of updates, if I find a user has dialup, and hasn't been
keeping their system up to date, I usually have them order the Security
CD from Microsoft. It hasn't been updated in quite a while, but includes
updates up to October 2003. It at least cuts down on the number of
updates users have to download. It also comes with CA E-Trust. I know
many have some thoughts on CA, but it does support more than AVG and
includes a year of updates.
Every once in a while I also have to pull out the big guns and refer a
user to CWShredder for the CoolWebSearch spyware that Spybot and Adaware
sometimes have problems with.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Kenzig http://thin.net [mailto:jimkenz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 8:50 AM
To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [THIN] Re: Ad Ware
On this subject I wrote the following the other day. I sent it to Brian
to post on his site but haven't heard back from him:
Regards,
Jim Kenzig
http://thin.net
How to keep your PC Spyware and malware free for nothing!
Jim Kenzig http://thin.net
In this day and age simply connecting, logging on to, or surfing the
internet can subject your computer to numerous worms, viruses, hackers,
spyware and abuse. Computer users must be security conscious or risk
having their computer compromised or even made to be unusable by hackers
and viruses.
Of course the most important and number one thing that must be done is
your computer must be kept up to date with the latest service packs and
hotfixes.
This article is going to focus on Windows Operating System since that is
where the greatest percentage of users exist.
Enable Automatic Updates
In order to keep your computer up to date you should go into your
control panel of your computer by going to start/settings/control panel
and double click on the Automatic Updates icon to open the settings
dialog.
Click the second or third radio button on the updates dialog screen to
determine how to download the updates. If you choose the second box you
will need to install the update once it is downloaded. A globe icon
with the Microsoft Flag icon will appear in your task tray when updates
are ready to install that you must click on. If you choose the 3rd
radio button updates will be downloaded when you specify
Note: if you do not have DSL, a cable modem or direct connection to the
internet and do not keep your machine on, the third radio button is not
the best choice. If you keep your machine on every day at a certain time
it is most definitely the best choice. Schedule the update to be done
when your machine is on and click on the Apply button. This way your
updates will automatically be downloaded from Microsoft and installed
and you will never have to worry that your PC is not up to date with
patches and fixes.
If you have an older PC and do not have the Windows Update service
installed you can manually install updates by opening Internet Explorer
and going to:
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp
Scan for updates and install all critical updates. Once the updates are
installed you may have to return to the update page until all critical
updates have been installed.
Install a good Firewall
Next. If you are using Windows XP, enable Windows Internet Connection
Firewall. If you are not on Windows XP obtain a good firewall software
(or purchase a router with a hardware firewall) and install it. I
recommend Sygate Personal Firewall.
Good directions on how to install Windows Internet Connection Firewall
are on the Microsoft site at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/learnmore/icf.mspx
If you are on a different version of Windows other than Windows XP, you
can download the Free version of Sygate Personal Firewall at:
http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm
Install sygate and you will need to reboot your PC. Once Sygate is
running you will receive a popup the first time that you run any program
that tries to access the internet asking if you want to allow it. If you
want to allow the program to access the internet you should choose the
allow button and click the check box to not prompt you again for that
program.
Sygate has many nice features and has a great logging and graphical
readout so you can see what is going on with your PC.
Antivirus
Next it is absolutely imperative that an antivirus program is installed
on every PC you own!
For people who cant afford an antivirus I recommend that they download
and install AVG Antivirus.
Get it at:
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
As an alternative you can scan your PC online by using Trend Housecall.
Navigate to:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
Allow the Trend site to install the applet and you will be able to scan
your PC anytime on the trend site.
Note: This is only a Virus scanner and it does not prevent viruses from
getting on your PC.
While AVG is free, antivirus is a necessity and is not something that
you should skimp on and I suggest that you do purchase a commercial
program.
(If you are going to spend money on an Antivirus program Trend PC Cillin
available from http://www.trendmicro.com is a fine choice.)
Spyware and Ad Removal
I use exclusively 2 tools that are freeware for home users to remove
Spyware and adware programs from my PC. Adaware from Lavasoft and Spybot
Search and Destroy.
AdAware is available at http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/
To install Lavasoft Adaware free for personal use download and run the
executable and it will install the program.
Once in the program is installed and you have opened it by clicking on
the adaware icon on your desktop, click on the globe in the upper right
corner to do the web update. Obviously you need to be connected to the
internet to do this. Click on the connect button to get the latest
pattern updates.
Choose OK to download the pattern file then click on finish when it is
done.
Next click on the scan now button on the right pane of the program to
scan your system. Follow the directions to clean your system after the
scan is done. You should update and run Adaware at least once per month.
Spybot Search and Destroy is available at
http://www.soft32.com/download_26568.html
Spybot Search and Destroy is free for personal use. Download and run the
executable and choose your language.Click on next, click the radio
button to accept the agreement and click on next. The default directory
is OK to use unless you need to change a drive letter. Click on next
four more times then click on install and finish. The program will start
up and if you are connected to internet download a new rules file. There
is no need to create a registry backup when it prompts you but you can
do it. Note this takes a long time. Click on next if you do not want to
do this or when it is done.
Click on the Search for updates choice (be sure and be connected to the
internet still) and then click on download all available updates if it
is highlighted. Click on next. Click on the immunize this system button
then click on next and then start using the program or read the help
file.. Click on the Search and Destroy icon in the left panel and then
click on Check for problems in the right pane. Spybot will now scan
your drive for problems that you can fix when it is done.
Using Spybot and adaware every few weeks along with the other
suggestions above will insure that your PC remains useable and virus and
malware free.
Security
Finally one more link to add to your favorites and visit often is
Microsoft's Security site at:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.mspx
This site offers a wealth of information about security and keeping your
PC secure and virus and malware free.
Microsoft has also set up a free 866 telephone number that you can call
for FREE virus related support in the US and Canada only. The number is
1-866-PCSAFETY
Copyright Jim Kenzig
http://thin.net
-----Original Message-----
From: thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf Of Claus, Brian
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 8:36 AM
To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [THIN] Re: Ad Ware
Sygate personal firewall will help figure it out.
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