Malware Defense
Friday, July 2, 2010 at 12:30PM I have been spending a great deal of my time recently cleaning and/or re-formatting computer systems that have been overrun with various types of Malware. Because of this, I decided to take a moment and write down some ideas you can use to defend yourself.
1. Do not use Internet Explorer. Many of the web-based exploits that are used to infect your computer depend on IE. Since IE is the most widely-used web browser, the distributors of viruses and trojans tend to target its' weaknesses in order to try to infect as many machines as possible with the least amount of effort. Off to the left side of the main page of this site, you will find the "Useful Links" section. In that section you will find free download links for Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, and Apple Safari. Try these different browsers on for size, and see which one you like best.
Unfortunately, you will never be able to rid yourself of IE completely. You will discover some web sites that simply only work properly when you visit them using IE. My advice would be to only fire up IE to visit these sites, and use an alternative brower at all other times.
2. Verify that your Anti-Virus program is functional. Subscriptions expire, software becomes damaged, and some exploits specifically target AV programs and make them malfunction. Check your system Tray (the row of icons next to your clock) for your AV icon. Open the program up and look for any alerts. If there is an "update" button (and there almost always will be) press it, and make sure your system is fully up to date.
If you lack Anti-Virus, there are links off to the left for some free options including Microsoft Security Essentials and AVG Free. MS Security Essentials is free, and AVG is free for personal use.
3. Make sure System Restore is enabled. Versions of Microsoft Windows since XP have included a very useful feature called "System Restore", which allows you to reset the installed software on your computer to the state it was in at a previous date and time. This tool is massively useful when trying to undo a Malware infestation. Because of this, many viruses immediately target and try to disable this system.
To verify that System Restore is turned on, click START->ACCESSORIES->SYSTEM TOOLS->SYSTEM RESTORE. If the program runs and offers to reset your computer to an earlier time, then System Restore is enabled. If you receive an error message saying that System Restore is turned off, then the software should offer you the option of turning it on.