LMS Consulting

Make sure you get your system protected from ocurrences of malware problems. Below are some simple steps you can take to reduce the chance of infection in the future. I strongly encourage you to do them all. There is no perfect solution for totally preventing malware from getting on your PC, however, these steps will help.

1. Visit Windows Update: Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for your operating system and IE. The first defense against infection is a properly patched OS. For anyone who is not yet running at least Windows XP SP2 (which you really should be running at a minimum if your PC supports it) see the below link before updating. If you already have Windows XP SP3 then you don't need to worry about SP2 since you are more current already.
• Get Your PC Ready for Windows XP SP3
• You should check for Windows Updates at least once a month. Go to the below link to get your updates or check to see if you need any:
• Windows Update
• Note: If you have problems getting your Windows Updates, see if the below thread helps:
• Help with Windows Update
• VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:
  
  Before you decide to skip getting your Windows Updates for whatever reason you think you have, make sure you read the below link and understand the possible risks to your security.
  
  Cleaning a Compromised System
2. Anti Virus: make sure you have one and keep it updated. Here is the current one I reccommend:
•  Avira Premium Security Suite This includes Anti-Virus/Anti-Malware & Firewall
3. Firewalls
   
   A firewall is software or hardware that acts like a gate to help protect your computer against hackers and some computer viruses and worms that try to find unprotected computers that are connected to the Internet. This gate allows you to you to accept connections from sources you trust, and it keeps the gate closed for ones you don't trust. A firewall works by examining information coming from and going to the Internet. It identifies and blocks information that comes from a dangerous location or seems suspicious. If you set up your firewall properly, hackers searching for vulnerable computers cannot detect your computer (often referred to as a stealthed connection)
   
   
   There are two kinds of firewalls:

   1. Hardware Firewall - normally built into a router if you use one. If you do have a router with a firewall, make sure you enable it. And also password protect your router, especially if it is a wireless router. Wireless routers can be less secure because they use radio frequencies to communicate with your PC. So if you use a wireless router, you can help enhance the security of your network by enabling the firewall and by requiring a password to connect to your network. Make sure you also enable encryption on your wireless network.
   2. Software Firewall - special software that you must install. Use a software firewall even if you do have a hardware firewall. But only use one software firewall. Running multiple software firewalls is unnecessary and using more than one software firewall on the same connection could cause issues with connectivity to the Internet or other unexpected behavior.

   If you don't have a software firewall, look at Avira Premium Security Suite This includes Anti-Virus/Anti-Malware & Firewall

4.  Get a Temp File/Cookies/index.dat cleaner

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5. Anti Spyware Tools

• SUPERAntiSpyware - free version has no realtime protection but provides a useful scan/removal feature. See the below link for a comparison of the free and paid version which is recommended
  • http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html
• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - free versions is only a scan/removal tool.
• AVG Anti-Spyware - Free version becomes scan only if you don't purchase after the trial period ( AVG Antispware has been discontinued as it is included in AVG8 AntiVirus )
• SpyBot-Search & Destroy
  • Use the Immunize feature.
  • Use SDHelper which integrate into Internet Explorer to block your browser from downloading bad programs from known malware sites.
  • I don't recommend activating the TeaTimer which does provide realtime protection but has been problematic in the past. Some people have fewer problems with it then others so you may wish to give it a try as a realtime blocker and decide for yourself.
  • On Vista, Spybot will install a security center service.

Non-realtime protection no scanner

• SpyWare Blaster Install it, click Download Latest Protection Updates, Check for Updates, and then Enable All Protection, then exit. SpywareBlaster is not a malware scanner or removal tool and uses no system resources except a little disk space. It does a great job of preventing malware from being installed in the first place! It blocks the popular spyware ActiveX controls, and also prevents the installation of any of them from malicious websites.

What do we recommend ?

• one realtime blocking tool from the list
• Spybot - installed as recommended using SDhelper and Immunize
• SpywareBlaster with all protection enabled.

IMPORTANT NOTEs:

1. Use only one realtime blocker - I do not recommend using multiple full blown blocker/scanner/removal tools (like AVG Antispyware paid version, Comodo BOClean, CounterSpy, MS Windows Defender, SpySweeper, SpywareGuard, and Spyware Terminator) at the same time as a long term solution. Doing that temporarily to clean a system is okay, but long term you may find that it slows your system down too much. It is okay to run one of these, along with the other items listed above because the others are not too resource hungry (that is, as long as you do not use Spybot's Teatimer).
2. Beware of Rogue Tools - There are loads of bad (also called rogue) anti-spyware programs available out there. You should familiarize yourself with the list maintained at the Spyware Warrior website. See: Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites