Security Info/Help

treekatoni · 07-24-2006, 06:01 PM

I just recently bought a computer. I will be installing McAfee onto it.

Is there any other security precautions that I can take before I network my computer to my dads to insure that it doesn't get infected?

Thanx!

fredmh · 07-24-2006, 08:02 PM

Hello treekatoni:

This is the closing I give to users after cleaning their systems. You can read through it and see if anything might help:

Please read through the following information to help protect your computer in the future.

Please ensure that you have already patched your system against the recent WMF exploit. Go to this page to get the KB912919 patch

MICROSOFT UPDATES

It is very important that you get all of the critical updates for your Operating System and Internet Explorer. Keeping your OS and browser
up to date will help make you less susceptible to attacks by Trojans and viruses. Please go to Microsoft
and download all the critical updates to help prevent possible re-infection.

Enable Windows Auto Update
Go to Start>Run - type wuaucpl.cpl
tick on the checkbox - "Keep my computer up to date"
Under settings, choose "Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify".
Click on "OK".

Now that you are clean, to help protect your computer in the future I recommend that you get the following free programs:
SpywareBlaster to help prevent spyware from installing in the first place.

Install & update SpywareBlaster with the latest definitions.
After you have updated, click the button - enable protection for all unprotected items

SpywareGuard to catch and block spyware before it can execute.

SPYBOT - SEARCH & DESTROY Download and install Spybot - Search & Destroy with its
TeaTimer option.
This will provide realtime spyware & hijacker protection on your computer alongside your virus protection. You should also scan your computer with
the program on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software. A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here

AD-AWARE Download and install Ad-Aware. You should use this program to scan
your computer on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software in conjunction with Spybot. A tutorial on installing & using this product
can be found here

IE-SPYAD IE/Spyad places more than 4000 dubious websites and domains in the IE Restricted list. This severely impair attempts to infect your system. It basically prevents any downloads (Cookies etc) from the sites listed, although you will still be able to connect to the sites.

Download IE-SpyAD - Extract the contents to a new folder
From within the folder, double-click install.bat
Select Option #2 - Install the new IE-SPYAD list.
Then return to the main menu.
Select option #4 - Add the old porn sites domain

MVPS HOST FILE The MVPS Hosts file replaces your current HOSTS file
with one that will restrict known ad sites form serving you unsolicited advertisements. Basically, this prevents your computer from connecting to
those sites by redirecting them to 127.0.0.1 which is the IP of your local computer.

Download Host.zip to your desktop.
From your Desktop right-click (hosts.zip) and select:
Extract All from the menu.
Click Next, click Next, select the option:
"Show Extracted files"
Click Finish

This will open the newly created hosts folder on your Desktop.

Double-click on the included mvps.bat file, this will rename the existing HOSTS file to HOSTS.MVP, then it will copy the included updated
HOSTS file to the correct location on your machine.

ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE It is very important that you have anti-virus software running on your machine.
This alone can save you a lot of trouble with malware in the future.
See this link for a listing of some online antivirus scanners: Anti-Spyware Tutorial

Here are some very good free Antivirus products which are available:

Avast!
AVG
Winpatrol - A tutorial for this product is located here: Using Winpatrol to protect your computer from malicious software

If you do not have a firewall, here are 4 free ones available for personal use:

In light of your recent troubles, I'm sure you'll like to avoid any future infections. Please take a look at these well written articles:

treekatoni · 07-25-2006, 09:49 AM

thank you very much! I will re-view this once my computer gets here!

They say that it will be shipped out on August 3rd... and it will take 1-5 days to actually get to my house... :/ oh well.. I can wait...

thanx again!

07-24-2006, 06:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
treekatoni Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Posts: 3 OS: XP	Security Info/Help I just recently bought a computer. I will be installing McAfee onto it. Is there any other security precautions that I can take before I network my computer to my dads to insure that it doesn't get infected? Thanx! __________________ - Trish, the dangerously imaginative ;)

07-24-2006, 08:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
fredmh Analyst, Security Team ; TSF Supporter Join Date: May 2006 Location: Phila,Pa Posts: 2,335 OS: XP	Hello treekatoni: This is the closing I give to users after cleaning their systems. You can read through it and see if anything might help: Please read through the following information to help protect your computer in the future. Please ensure that you have already patched your system against the recent WMF exploit. Go to this page to get the KB912919 patch MICROSOFT UPDATES It is very important that you get all of the critical updates for your Operating System and Internet Explorer. Keeping your OS and browser up to date will help make you less susceptible to attacks by Trojans and viruses. Please go to Microsoft and download all the critical updates to help prevent possible re-infection. Enable Windows Auto Update Go to Start>Run - type wuaucpl.cpl tick on the checkbox - "Keep my computer up to date" Under settings, choose "Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule that I specify". Click on "OK". Now that you are clean, to help protect your computer in the future I recommend that you get the following free programs: SpywareBlaster to help prevent spyware from installing in the first place. Install & update SpywareBlaster with the latest definitions. After you have updated, click the button - enable protection for all unprotected items SpywareGuard to catch and block spyware before it can execute. SPYBOT - SEARCH & DESTROY Download and install Spybot - Search & Destroy with its TeaTimer option. This will provide realtime spyware & hijacker protection on your computer alongside your virus protection. You should also scan your computer with the program on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software. A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here AD-AWARE Download and install Ad-Aware. You should use this program to scan your computer on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software in conjunction with Spybot. A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here IE-SPYAD IE/Spyad places more than 4000 dubious websites and domains in the IE Restricted list. This severely impair attempts to infect your system. It basically prevents any downloads (Cookies etc) from the sites listed, although you will still be able to connect to the sites. Download IE-SpyAD - Extract the contents to a new folder From within the folder, double-click install.bat Select Option #2 - Install the new IE-SPYAD list. Then return to the main menu. Select option #4 - Add the old porn sites domain MVPS HOST FILE The MVPS Hosts file replaces your current HOSTS file with one that will restrict known ad sites form serving you unsolicited advertisements. Basically, this prevents your computer from connecting to those sites by redirecting them to 127.0.0.1 which is the IP of your local computer. Download Host.zip to your desktop. From your Desktop right-click (hosts.zip) and select: Extract All from the menu. Click Next, click Next, select the option: "Show Extracted files" Click Finish This will open the newly created hosts folder on your Desktop. Double-click on the included mvps.bat file, this will rename the existing HOSTS file to HOSTS.MVP, then it will copy the included updated HOSTS file to the correct location on your machine. ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE It is very important that you have anti-virus software running on your machine. This alone can save you a lot of trouble with malware in the future. See this link for a listing of some online antivirus scanners: Anti-Spyware Tutorial Here are some very good free Antivirus products which are available: Avast! AVG Winpatrol - A tutorial for this product is located here: Using Winpatrol to protect your computer from malicious software If you do not have a firewall, here are 4 free ones available for personal use: ZoneAlarm Avast Antivirus/Firewall Tiny Personal Firewall OutPost Firewall In light of your recent troubles, I'm sure you'll like to avoid any future infections. Please take a look at these well written articles: HOW DID I GET INFECTED IN THE FIRST PLACE? THE ANTI-SPYWARE TUTORIAL MAKING INTERNET EXPLORER SAFER INVASION OF THE COMPUTER SNATCHERS

07-25-2006, 09:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
treekatoni Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Posts: 3 OS: XP	thank you very much! I will re-view this once my computer gets here! They say that it will be shipped out on August 3rd... and it will take 1-5 days to actually get to my house... :/ oh well.. I can wait... thanx again! __________________ - Trish, the dangerously imaginative ;)