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Episode 2: Internet Security - Spyware, Viruses.... How to Fight Back!

• Introducing Mike Petro
• How malware gets onto our machines
• What is spyware/viruses capable of?
• How to find out what is infecting your machine
• How to remove it!
• Preventive measures
• Wrap up with Mike

Find out more about Mike at www.callpetro.com

Running time: 1:01:53

Show notes:

# Introduction to Mike Petro

# Norton or McAfee not so great

# Windows Updates - download and install them!

# New out-of-the-box computers are still not completely updated. Make sure to download the latest updates

# Avast or AVG Free anti-virus available - these are light and don't hog up your system like Norton. Available here:
AVG Antivirus - free.grisoft.com
Avast Antivirus - www.avast.com

# Run a resident anti-virus rather than passive

# Safe browsing is the best way of avoiding malware

# Limewire = bad, Avoid peer-to-peer networks.

# Many people get tricked by pop-ups online. Scammers make it look like a valid windows message.

# If it's too good to be true, it usually is. Free ringtones and such usually have a catch.

# Watch for toolbars that suddenly appear in your Internet browser without your consent. Usually means browser hijack.

# Free porn sites will usually give you a virus.

# Adaware good tool to at least let you identify what kind of malware your have. Get at: www.lavasoftusa.com

# Look in at the processes in task manager or msconfig utility to see what is running. Usually a randomly named, number and letter process is malware. Ex: kjflcitfb.exe

# Look up suspect processes at:
Liutilities - www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary
Process Library - www.processlibrary.com
Note: Listener Mark Vanderberg suggested a fantastic program that runs in conjunction with the ProcessLibrary web site to quickly identify processes running in your task manager. Check it out here. Definitely worth the download! (http://www.processlibrary.com/quicklink/)

# Effects of Malware:
-pop-ups
-cause you to waste money on useless products
-slow you system down
-can steal your personal information with keyloggers

# Don't do a google search for virus removal - you'll get results that could be
just as harmful as your infection.

# Read the user reviews on sites to get the real deal on software. Don't just take the editors word for it.

# There is no all-in-one solution to getting rid of viruses/malware

# System restore will restore registry to before the time you got the virus. but be sure to do a virus scan after you run it to pick up dormant viruses.

# Norton and Mcafee put a strain on your system becasue they are too bloated (bloatware).

# Free spyware protection programs that are good:
Spywareblaster - www.javacoolsoftware.com
Spyware Guard - www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html

# www.Bleepingcomputer.com - great site about handling malware

# Good ol' Spybot - Search and Destroy (www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html) is still somewhat effective.

# If you are infected: try "hijack this" (www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html) - will create a log of what is occuring with your computer. you may not be able to understand the log, but there are places to get it analyzed. Like bleepingcomputer.com, lockergnome.com, castlecops.com

# BHO - Browser Helper Objects - Can be good, but also used by malware creators used to hijack your browser.

# If you get an unknown error message, you can type that error verbatim into a google search and it my find useful result for you.

# Way to clean out temp folders:CCleaner (www.ccleaner.com), Cleanup (www.stevengould.org)

# If system Restore does not work, turn it off. So it doesn't save past bad points in time.

# Smitfraudfix (http://siri.geekstogo.com/SmitfraudFix.php) -
Good spyware handling program, deletes infected trusted zones then cleans system.

# Combofix (http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/sUBs/ComboFix.exe) - Great for handling spyware - don't be scared by initial warning message.

# Killbox (www.killbox.net) - Deletes harmfull that are hard to delete because of windows permissions.

# Ultimate Boot CD (www.ubcd4win.com) - Great tool for booting into win xp environment, allows you to share drives and files, good for unbootable C: drive

# Cookies, not all bad. Just text files. Leave footprint of bowsing habits - relatively harmless

# How mike got started in the field:
- in IT since 1996
- started programming young
- fell into first networking job
- started doing computer repair and through word of mouth expanded his business to full time business.
- niche is on-site prompt, effective service

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More episodes to come...