Exids IT Solutions

…And what you can do to keep your computer safe

Here’s a post you should take to heart; especially if you are reading this on Windows computer in Internet Explorer.

The few years of my life I have been up to my knees wading through 0’s and 1’s in people’s computers looking for suspicious processes, process modules, handles, hooks, hidden API’s, Alternate data Streams and all the other geeky areas I may find bits of code designed to run amuck in your system with intentions unbeknown to many users. I am going to share a few spyware facts, and what you can do to keep clean and secure.

I’m talking about Malware (AKA viruses, spyware, adware, trojans, worms). Just so there isn’t any confusion of what I am ranting about, “malware” is a general term to describe all the aforementioned software – it is malicious software; therefore the term: “MALWARE”.

It has become painfully obvious that we are fighting a losing war against individuals and corporations that are hell bent on gathering information about everyone last one of us. One of the reasons adware and spyware is so prevalent is because adware and spyware are designed to collect information about where we visit, what we click on, and what we search for to construct media campaigns that maximize advertisers spending. Of course, this is only one reason why someone would want to infect your system.

I intend to give you some tips on how to stay clean, but before I do I want to share some troubling information about spyware and malware facts:

1. FACT:  Spyware and Malware can easily be installed on a system without the user’s knowledge with improperly configured security settings. In many cases one infection can propagate many more infections by downloading and installing malicious software quietly in the background.
2. FACT:  There is currently no software (nor will there every be) available that can remove all spyware or malware. The reasons are simple:
       a) New variants and mutations are being released at easily double the speed that software is built to remove them
       b) The complexity of infection in many variants of malware are so intrusive, the software itself would have to infect your system much like a virus to even see the infection, let alone remove it.
   Still don’t believe me?  Check out This article
3. FACT:  A spy Audit survey in 2004 suggests that over 90% of computers are infected with some type of malicious software!  I would even go so far as saying that EVERY online computer has some form of software, code or information on it that 3rd parties could use to it’s advantage.
4. FACT:  Many variants of malware will install a backdoor (also known as trojans), that enable hackers complete control of your system, or turn your computer into a “zombie” carrying out their malicious deeds whenever they want.  Installing back doors have become a very popular in recent years.

So what do you do?

Here are some tips that can help keep your system clean:

1. Never install “FREE” software. There is usually a hook. If you ABSOLUTLEY NEED the software, make sure you read the license agreement when you are installing it – it’s that 40 mile long window of text that everyone clicks “I Agree” to when you first open the file after you download it.  You may find it boring, but when you read a section stating that they track everything you do you’ll be happy you spent the time to read it.  You can also do an online search to see if there are any known issues with the software where it is designed to exploit system security or gather information about you.
2. Use antivirus software. While I maintain that software is not a solution to the impending doom or payload of many types of infections, installing Anti-virus will at least help you in the following ways:
       a) in many cases it will prevent the infection of “Known” malware and tell you about it
       b) If you have been infected by known malware, the least the software can do if it cannot remove it is inform you of the infection.  At least then you can seek out help if you can’t remove the problem yourself.
   if you don’t have anti-virus software, you can find out where to download Totally Free AntiVirus software here.
3. Buy a firewall/router. If you don’t know what that is, go to Staples, Future Shop, Best Buy or somewhere like that and ask for one. It will be the best damn $25 you ever spent. it also allows you to connect multiple computers to the internet. If you want to be cheap about it (not recommended), install a software firewall. You can download a free one called Zone Alarm, or Sygate. I’m not going to post links because I don’t like either of them, but it’s up to you if you want to install them and run into brand new issues from problem prone software.Get more information about Firewalls in the PCsecuritySecrets Firewall GuideIf you are using Windows XP, there’s already a firewall built into it. Make sure it is turned on!  See the link above for information on how to do this.
4. Do your Windows Updates. If you are using Internet explorer, click Tools > Options > Windows Update and follow the directions. If you remember the blaster worm and how bad that was, you may be surprised to know that if everyone had patched their systems by doing updates, the Blaster worm would have been practically non-existent.  See the PCsecuritySecrets Windows Update guide to learn more about Windows Updates and how you can set your computer up to do them automatically.
5. Scan your system weekly (at the least) with anti-spyware software for malware. I recommend these two programs:
       a) Adaware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
       b) Spybot: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
   **Always run adware first, then spybot – it will increase your chances of successfully removing malware.**
   
   Visit the PCsecuritySecrets Spyware Software Guide for more information on totally free anti spyware programs you can use.
6. Don’t use IE (Internet Explorer). Microsoft should be more proactive in securing their software (which by the way they are becoming very good at), but I must admit, many of the problems IE has are user induced – they just don’t want to learn how to lock it down.  I can’t believe how many computers I work in that have non-existent security setting configured in IE.

In the meantime, make your way over to here: http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/ and download firefox. It’s not flawless, but it’ll do a much better job at protecting you overall, and hell, it works great too!

Visit the PC security Secrets Cleaup and Informational Guide now to clean up your PC!

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