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PC Security Handbook

Protect your PC from malware


and keep your files safe

Rich Robinson — Microsoft MVP — http://mintywhite.com

PC Security Handbook — Windows Guides — http://mintywhite.com


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© 2009 Windows Guides | mintywhite.com. All rights reserved. Contents
PC Security Handbook

If this guide is distributed it is furnished under license and may be used or copied only in accordance with
the terms of such license. Except as permitted by any such license, no part of this guide may be Introduction...................................................................................... 2
reproduced. This guide may be stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise. Please note that the content in this guide is protected Notational Conventions ................................................................. 2
under copyright law.
Mintywhite will not be responsible for damages to your computer, software, or data resulting from use of Security 101 .................................................................................. 2
information contained in this document.
The content of this guide is furnished for informational use only, is subject to change without notice, and How to Avoid Malware ...................................................................... 4
should not be construed as a commitment by Windows Guides. Windows Guides and Microsoft Corp Keep Your Computer up to Date ....................................................... 4
assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in the informational
content contained in this guide or for any damages resulting from use of the information contained herein. Keep Your Browser up to Date........................................................... 4
Please remember that existing artwork or images that you may want to include in your project may be
protected under copyright law. The unauthorized incorporation of such material into your new work could Internet Explorer ........................................................................... 4
be a violation of the rights of the copyright owner. Please be sure to obtain any permission required from
the copyright owner. Mozilla Firefox .............................................................................. 4
Mintywhite, Windows Guides, and the Windows Guides logo are trademarks of mintywhite.com
Microsoft, Windows and Office are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are the Install Good Antimalware .................................................................. 5
property of their respective owners.
AVG Internet Security .................................................................... 5
What Do I Get If I Use the Coupon? ............................................. 6
ESET Smart Security ....................................................................... 6
About the Author System Scanning ........................................................................ 6
Scheduled Protection ................................................................. 7

Rich Robinson is the author and creator of Windows Guides, Harm Prevention ........................................................................ 7
Windows Forums, and MyWindowsPC. Rich is a Microsoft MVP in Harm Protection ......................................................................... 8
the Desktop Experience category and authored Windows 7 –The Resource Usage ......................................................................... 9
Pocket Guide, Windows Vista – The Pocket Guide, and Windows Real-time Status ........................................................................ 9
Vista – Customization Manual. His hobbies include spending In Conclusion .............................................................................. 10
time with family, web design, programming, running, soccer,
Put Your Antimalware to the Test ................................................ 10
skiing, and swimming.
AVG ......................................................................................... 11
See more books Rich authored. ESET ....................................................................................... 11
Backup Your Data Online ................................................................ 11
Online Data Backup ..................................................................... 11
MozyHome Features .................................................................... 12
Download Mozy for Free .............................................................. 13
What Next? ..................................................................................... 13
About this Handbook ...................................................................... 13

PC Security Handbook — Windows Guides — http://mintywhite.com


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Introduction Italic bold: something you type as shown, e.g., regedit. Unless
otherwise specified, you can use uppercase or lowercase letter.

Click: move the cursor to the referenced item and press the left
This handbook is designed to help you find ways to protect mouse button.
your Windows XP/Vista/7 PC and ensure your data is safe. I get
countless emails from site visitors who ask about the best anti- Press: push on a keyboard key.
virus software, firewall program, backup utilities etc. and there Select: choose from a list.
are often questions in the forums of a similar nature.
Blue Links: Links to external websites.
I set up PCs for companies, friends, and family; the advice I
give in this manual is what I use when building any PC. My tips
Security 101
are tried and tested and have left hundreds of people satisfied
with the way their computer works. I hope you too can follow Many terms in this handbook may be new to you; I make every
these instructions and enjoy an error-free, spyware-free, and effort to explain things in a simple manner that is easy to
speedy PC. digest. Before we begin with solutions, I present some key
terms and phrases that will assist you as you work your way
The purpose of this book is not to define the ultimate solution; through the rest of this handbook. These phrases are
its purpose is to give you simple, unbiased advice on what I’ve commonly thrown out in conversation and in online discussion
found to be the best options out there. In this handbook, I only forums, but it’s hard to know exactly what they mean.
give advice and share programs that I’ve used for at least a
year. Some programs seem good when you first use them, but Malware – The generic term used for all forms of software
quickly annoy you or slow down your PC. designed with malicious intent. Viruses, worms, spyware etc.
are all forms of malware. The term virus is often used when
If you have any questions about PC security or PCs in general, malware should really be used as it describes all forms of
you can head to Windows Forums where you’ll find friendly, malicious software.
knowledgeable members who are happy to assist in your
learning. If you disagree with anything in this handbook, please Virus – A computer virus acts very much like a human virus.
join us also and share your solutions. Human viruses are spread, via thumb drives, floppy discs,
network connections etc., to other PCs. Viruses need a host
(like a free screensaver program) to spread. By pure definition:
Notational Conventions
a virus has the ability to spread itself, via a host, to other
In this handbook, I have used these notational conventions: computers.

Italic: Text from the current dialogue you are working with. Worm – A worm is much like a virus. The key difference is
Bold: the name of a keyboard key. worms can spread between PCs without a host (free
screensaver program, downloaded game etc.) These programs

PC Security Handbook — Windows Guides — http://mintywhite.com


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rely on computer networks and usually damage files and slow Key logger – Key loggers are used to monitor keyboard activity
down networks in their path. on a PC. These can be software-based (bundled with Trojan
horses, adware, and spyware) or hardware-based (between the
Trojan horse (Trojan) - A Trojan horse is a seemingly keyboard cable and the PC, acoustic etc.) Usually this
harmless program that looks to provide value. However, just as information is retrieved across a local network, the internet, or
in Greek mythology, a Trojan horse has a secret agenda and from the physical device connected to the keyboard.
acts as a backdoor to your computer. This backdoor can be
accessed by a hacker to compromise your PC. Trojan horses are Firewall – A firewall both permits and blocks access to a
not self-replicating and spread due to users installing them network or PC. Firewalls are included with popular security
manually on their PC. software (e.g. AVG Internet Security and ESET Smart Security)
and limit communication between your PC and devices that are
Privacy-invasive software – A formal term used to describe not authorized to communicate with you.
software that invades your privacy. This software comes in
different forms including spyware and adware. Windows Firewall – Comes bundled with Windows XP, Vista,
and 7. This is a great solution; however, due to a lack of
Spyware – Spyware tracks a user’s activity by monitoring comprehensive definition updates, Windows Firewall is not
browsing habits and keyboard activity and can even take completely effective in blocking threats and allowing safe
screenshots while you use your PC. This information is sent connections.
back to the creator or beneficiary of the spyware. Signs of
spyware include: modified browser homepages, slow internet, Antimalware / Antivirus / Antispyware - Software designed
and suspicious looking sites in place of legitimate sites (for to remove or block malware (e.g. AVG Internet Security and
example: banking sites.) ESET Smart Security.)

Adware – Like spyware, adware is software that may track Real-time Scanning – Good antimalware programs scan files in
visited websites and act as a key logger. Adware tracks this real time; as you download, copy, and install files on to your
information to automatically display downloaded or installed computer, your antimalware program will scan these files for
adverts to a user. You may wonder why you are being offered infections and malicious code. You should only have one real-
“PC Super Anti Spyware 2011” when using your PC; this is time scanner installed at any time—otherwise they will conflict
adware at work. AIM, FlashGet, Deamon Tools, and RealPlayer as they compete to scan the same files.
are all examples of adware.
Now you have your jargon set straight, you’ll learn how to avoid
Backdoor - A backdoor is a point of access to a computer that malware, some specific steps to ensure you are protected, and
does not require authentication. An unlocked house back door how to protect your files from data loss.
gives access to an otherwise secure home; a computer
backdoor allows access to your PC without your knowledge or
permission.

PC Security Handbook — Windows Guides — http://mintywhite.com


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How to Avoid Malware You may need to download the Windows Genuine Advantage
(WGA) tool, which checks to see if your copy of Windows is
genuine.
Here are some tips to ensure malware is not given access to
Windows may need to reboot your machine several times as
your computer:
new updates are installed.
• Keep your computer up to date.
Your computer is now up to date.
• Keep your browser up to date.
• Install good antimalware.
• Download free software only from sites you know and
Keep Your Browser up to Date
trust.
• Avoid clicking links inside pop-up windows.
• If you are offered antimalware programs while browsing, Browsers are a common source of computer vulnerabilities
don’t install them. Stick with the software I outline in because they use so many plugins and programs that create
this handbook. loop holes that malware can exploit. To update your browser:

By following these rules, you’ll protect yourself and decrease


the chances of getting malware on your system. The rest of this Internet Explorer
handbook will show you how to apply the first three tips listed If you are using Internet Explorer (IE) as your browser, use
above. Windows Update—explained above—to keep it up to date.

Keep Your Computer up to Date Mozilla Firefox


To check for updates for Mozilla Firefox:

To keep Windows up to date, Microsoft uses Windows Update. 1. Open Firefox.


Windows Update should run automatically on your PC. 2. Click Help > Check for Updates.
However, you should check if your PC is up to date. To check
for Windows updates:

1. Click Start, Run, and type:


a. Windows XP: wupdmgr
b. Windows Vista/7: wuapp
2. Press Enter.
3. Click Install Updates

PC Security Handbook — Windows Guides — http://mintywhite.com


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times and don’t install both programs because the real-time
scanners on both of these programs will conflict.

AVG Internet Security


I’ve used AVG for many years on my computers because I trust
it and it has always protected my files from malicious
programs. AVG is now used by over 80 million users and
remains one of the top security programs available today.

As this is your security 101 class, I won’t bore you with the
details—I’ll get straight to the point. AVG protects you from:
3. If updates are available, follow the on-screen
instructions. • Web browsing threats.
• Targeted hacker attacks.
• Viruses and spyware.
Install Good Antimalware From AVG’s homepage:

AVG helps you stay safe while you shop, bank online
In this section, I recommend antimalware software that I’ve
watch videos, search or surf the web, download
used for years. I highly recommend these programs and am
music, documents and pictures, and email or chat.
confident they will protect your PC and minimize system
Every document or file you download, every web page or
slowdowns, which are an all-too-common side effect of
link you click on, is scanned by AVG before you open it.
security software.
Unlike other security products, we stop the threats
The two programs I recommend are AVG Internet Security and before they reach your hard drive and become a
ESET Smart Security. Both of these are paid programs; however, problem. Safe internet surfing is now possible.
I really feel you get what you pay for and will not be
AVG Internet Security also comes with a Firewall, which relies
disappointed by either choice. AVG also has a free version and
on existing data to determine whether a connection attempt is
ESET gives you a 30-day trial, which I recommend you take
a threat.
before paying for a license. I recommend either of the two
different programs because they will both provide the level of I recommend try AVG Free to start with. If you are satisfied with
protection you need, not bog down your computer, and are how well AVG works, I have a 25% off 1 year subscription to
reasonably priced. You should give both programs a try if you AVG Internet Security coupon for you to use.
are unsure which one to use. However, try them at different

PC Security Handbook — Windows Guides — http://mintywhite.com


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What Do I Get If I Use the Coupon? highly recommend running all the modules together. This way,
you do not need a separate firewall, anti-spam, or anti-
AVG Internet Security has the following features that don’t
spyware program running in the background.
come with AVG Free:
Note: the screenshots I will show you are from the business
• Web Shield - Screens your downloads and prevents
edition. I will only cover features available in the home edition.
accidental infections through IM chats.
• Anti-Rootkit - Protection against hidden threats that
deliver malicious content.
• Identity Protection - Prevents identity theft and new and
unknown malware.
• Firewall - Stops hackers and viruses spread over the
internet.
• Anti-Spam - Catches e-mail threats including phishing,
fraud and spam.
• Free Support - Free support and service around the clock
and across the globe.

Use this 25% off coupon for AVG Internet Security.

ESET Smart Security


I love ESET Smart Security and have been using it for over a
year. If you ask anyone who is computer “savvy”, they’ll know
about (and may already use) ESET. System Scanning

I’ve reviewed ESET in more detail here. For sake of brevity, I’ll The system scanning is both quick and efficient and in, in my
explain the best details in this handbook. opinion, quicker than any other virus program I’ve ever used.
You are shown a simple interface while the system scans your
When you first start the program, you will be presented with files, which is an improvement over many programs which
the simple menu. You can enable the advanced menu by show an elaborate display when checking your computer.
clicking at the bottom of the main menu. The interface for this
program is simple and intuitive with a clean dashboard that
shows you the most recent statistics from the program. From
the main menu, you can see the status of the different modules
of ESET Smart Security. If you are going to use this program, I

PC Security Handbook — Windows Guides — http://mintywhite.com


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Scheduled Protection Harm Prevention
I always like my computer to run a schedule so that tasks are Protection against viruses is great but prevention is even better
taken care of without my intervention. Virus scanning is no and ESET constantly update their virus definitions to ensure
exception to this rule and ESET comes with a built in scheduler that the even the newest viruses are well protected against.
so you don’t have to worry about setting up a schedule tasks Virus updates do not consume unnecessary system resources
via Windows control panel. and do not fail–other antivirus programs I have used have
issues with updating and sometimes need a manual fix.

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You can even submit the file to ESET for further analysis. This
Harm Protection will help you identify if the file is malicious and also help ESET
Most viruses should not find their way on to your system, protect other users who may have the same file on their
because of real-time protection, and should be caught machine.
immediately. However, if a virus is detected during a scan, it
will also be quarantined where you can review it and delete it if
necessary.

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As you can see from the enlarged screenshot, even with a full
system scan running, system resources are at 22% on a 2 GHz
dual core processor (T7250.) RAM usage is also very low but
this is not usually a problem with most virus scanners.

Real-time Status
The final aspect of ESET I want to cover is the virus radar. While
this may not be useful to you, it’s nice to see that ESET are
monitoring current threats and sharing them with you so you
can keep an eye out for any suspicious activity on your PC.

Resource Usage
Virus checkers are a notoriously bloated and slow your system
down to a halt when I running a scan. Many people who use
ESET hold it high because it uses such low system resources.
I’ve never completely tested this rely on the fact my computer
still runs just fine when the scans are running. For this review, I
decided to run a deep system scan and monitor system
resources. The results of this experiment are shown below
(click to enlarge):

PC Security Handbook — Windows Guides — http://mintywhite.com


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Put Your Antimalware to the Test
This section teaches you a fun “trick”. You’ll create a test file,
which will trigger all good antimalware programs. There is no
point in doing this other than for entertainment value and to
provide a sanity check.

This file is a dummy virus, which simulates a virus. This string


is provided by EICAR for distribution as the EICAR Standard
Anti-Virus Test File. The file is a legitimate DOS program and
produces sensible results when it runs (it prints the message
“EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!”)

Paste the following text into Notepad and save the text file to
your desktop:

X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*

In Conclusion
ESET Smart Security 4.0 is an excellent program and I You should see the following:
recommend it to everyone. You can download a 30 day trial
from ESET’s website here. You can also buy it with a 25%
discount here.

Read a full review here.

PC Security Handbook — Windows Guides — http://mintywhite.com


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AVG Backup Your Data Online

Data backup is essential. If you’d like to explore local backup


options, download my Windows pocket guides. I strongly
recommend using online (off-site) backups. Backing up your
data online prevents data loss if your computer is damaged or
stolen—or if your data is wiped by malware.

Online Data Backup


By far my favorite solution for online backup is Mozy. Mozy
offers free online storage (up to 2GB for free with paid options
too.) I’ve had Mozy installed on my laptop for over two years
and it has saved me on more than a handful of occasions.

Setup is simple and after downloading Mozy, you can specify


what you want to back up and when. Mozy will automate your
backups and let you decide when it backs up (specific times),
what causes it to back up (low CPU usage), and how often (one,
ESET
two, three etc. times a day.)

I just let Mozy run and it alerts me after a successful backup:

Your virus checker works!

PC Security Handbook — Windows Guides — http://mintywhite.com


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Mozy even integrates into My Computer so you can browse and
restore your backed up files (even ones you’ve deleted from
your computer):

You can specify what types of files to backup or specify MozyHome Features
folders— it’s up to you:
• Open/locked file support: Mozy will back up your
documents whether they're open or closed.
• 128-bit SSL encryption: The same technology used by
banks secures your data during the backup process.
• 448-bit Blowfish encryption: Secures your files while in
storage, providing peace of mind that your private data
is safe from hackers.
• Automatic: Schedule the times to back up and
MozyHome does the rest.
• New and changed file detection: MozyHome finds and
saves the smallest changes.
• Backs up Outlook files: Disaster-proof email protection.
• Block-level incremental backup: After the initial backup,
MozyHome only backs up files that have been added or
changed, making subsequent backups lightning fast.

PC Security Handbook — Windows Guides — http://mintywhite.com


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Download Mozy for Free
Download MozyHome free.

What Next?

Now you’ve read this book, I recommend you ensure you’ve


made changes to ensure your data is protected. After you’ve
done this, I encourage you to visit Windows Guides and learn
other ways to improve your PC.

About this Handbook

This handbook is delivered free by Windows Guides.

The author, Rich Robinson, is a Microsoft MVP in the Desktop


Experience category; this book is not affiliated with Microsoft.
Get more books.

PC Security Handbook — Windows Guides — http://mintywhite.com


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