Direct MP3 Download: Podnutz Episode 2: Internet Security – Spyware, Viruses…. How to Fight Back!
Summary:
- 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
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
